Childhood and school activities: Fishing; riding and breaking horses; worked in his fathers tannery

Education: United States Military Academy at West Point (Nominated by Congressman Thomas L. Hamer, the application mistakenly listed the name “Ulysses S. Grant of Ohio”. Grant opted to let the mistake go and accepted the moniker “U.S. Grant”.)

Military Service: United States Navy 1839-1854, 1861-1869, final rank General of the Army

Civilian profession: Soldier, author

Married to Julia Boggs Dent (January 26, 1826 – December 14, 1902) at White Haven plantation west of St. Louis, Missouri

At 46 years old, he was the youngest man to that time elected to the presidency.

Early in life his political leanings were Democrat. However, during the Civil War, Grant became and voted Republican.

Having received a slave from his father-in-law, Grant freed William Jones in 1859 despite being in need of money.

Though rumors of drunkenness dogged his career, Grant actually suffered from debilitating migraines that often left him “hung over” and irritable.

Grant’s offer to return to military service after the attack on Ft. Sumter was lost by the War Department until after the Civil War had ended. He joined the Union army as Colonel of the unruly 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Eschewing pomp and finery, Grant often wore a privates uniform with stars of rank as the only adornment.

He accepted the surrender of Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee (whom he had served with in the Mexican-American War) at Appomattox Courthouse. He allowed Confederate soldiers to retain their personal weapons and horses if they would return home in peace.

Grant oversaw ratification of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

Grant signed legislation establishing the Department of Justice, the Weather Bureau (now the National Weather Service) and Yellowstone National Park, America’s first national park.

During his terms of office, Grant strove to improve the living conditions of Native Americans, repair foreign relations with Great Britain, reconcile differences among the North and South, secure civil rights for all Americans, and annex (unsuccessfully) the Dominican Republic into the United States.

Grant is the first of only three Presidents to have graduated from the military academy – Grant (USMA – 1843), Eisenhower (USMA – 1915), Carter (USNA – 1947, accelerated to 1946)

Assassination attempts: Grant had been invited to the performance at Ford’s Theatre with President Lincoln. However, he declined so that he and his wife could visit their children in New Jersey. John Wilkes Booth had previously stalked Julia Grant.

Grant is the first of only three Presidents to have graduated from the military academy – Grant (USMA – 1843), Eisenhower (USMA – 1915), Carter (USNA – 1947, accelerated to 1946)

He is buried beside his wife Julia in the General Grant National Memorial in Riverside Park, New York, New York; the largest mausoleum in North America. There is no “Grant’s Tomb”.

Hobbies: horseback riding – he once received a speeding ticket from a Washington, D.C. police officer that didn’t recognize him

Famous quote: “The right of revolution is an inherent one. When people are oppressed by their government, it is a natural right they enjoy to relieve themselves of oppression, if they are strong enough, whether by withdrawal from it, or by overthrowing it and substituting a government more acceptable.” Personal Memoirs, 1885

UPDATE – 2016 Muslim man born in New York to Afghan immigrant parents Omar Mir Seddique Mateen opens fire at closing time in “Pulse” gay nightclub in Orlando, FL. The terrorist pledges allegiance to ISIS and its leaders during rampage that kills 50 and wounds 54. SWAT team assaults club to free hostages and kills terrorist in the process. President Barack Hussein Obama II in press conference refuses to mention Islam or terrorism; blames guns and hatred.

Posted onMay 13, 2016|Comments Off on Lost and Found – May 13th Edition

What to remember about May 13th…

1607 100 colonists land on the James River in Virginia to found 1st permanent English colony in North America; Jamestown will be its name

1861 Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom issues proclamation declaring neutrality and recognizing rebellious states

1863 General Grant splits his army to win control of the Mississippi; half advance to take Jackson while the rest pin defenders in Vicksburg

1865 More than a month after surrender of the Confederacy, last skirmish of the civil war ends with rebel victory in Battle of Palmito Ranch in Texas

1940 In accepting position as Prime Minister, Winston Churchill declares Britain will “wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny”

1963 SCOTUS rules in Brady v. Maryland that the prosecution in a criminal trial must reveal exculpatory evidence; “Brady disclosure” is established

Childhood and school activities: Fishing; riding and breaking horses; worked in his fathers tannery

Education: United States Military Academy at West Point (Nominated by Congressman Thomas L. Hamer, the application mistakenly listed the name “Ulysses S. Grant of Ohio”. Grant opted to let the mistake go and accepted the moniker “U.S. Grant”.)

Military Service: United States Navy 1839-1854, 1861-1869, final rank General of the Army

Civilian profession: Soldier, author

Married to Julia Boggs Dent (January 26, 1826 – December 14, 1902) at White Haven plantation west of St. Louis, Missouri

At 46 years old, he was the youngest man to that time elected to the presidency.

Early in life his political leanings were Democrat. However, during the Civil War, Grant became and voted Republican.

Having received a slave from his father-in-law, Grant freed William Jones in 1859 despite being in need of money.

Though rumors of drunkenness dogged his career, Grant actually suffered from debilitating migraines that often left him “hung over” and irritable.

Grant’s offer to return to military service after the attack on Ft. Sumter was lost by the War Department until after the Civil War had ended. He joined the Union army as Colonel of the unruly 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Eschewing pomp and finery, Grant often wore a privates uniform with stars of rank as the only adornment.

He accepted the surrender of Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee (whom he had served with in the Mexican-American War) at Appomattox Courthouse. He allowed Confederate soldiers to retain their personal weapons and horses if they would return home in peace.

Grant oversaw ratification of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

Grant signed legislation establishing the Department of Justice, the Weather Bureau (now the National Weather Service) and Yellowstone National Park, America’s first national park.

During his terms of office, Grant strove to improve the living conditions of Native Americans, repair foreign relations with Great Britain, reconcile differences among the North and South, secure civil rights for all Americans, and annex (unsuccessfully) the Dominican Republic into the United States.

Grant is the first of only three Presidents to have graduated from the military academy – Grant (USMA – 1843), Eisenhower (USMA – 1915), Carter (USNA – 1947, accelerated to 1946)

Assassination attempts: Grant had been invited to the performance at Ford’s Theatre with President Lincoln. However, he declined so that he and his wife could visit their children in New Jersey. John Wilkes Booth had previously stalked Julia Grant.

Grant is the first of only three Presidents to have graduated from the military academy – Grant (USMA – 1843), Eisenhower (USMA – 1915), Carter (USNA – 1947, accelerated to 1946)

He is buried beside his wife Julia in the General Grant National Memorial in Riverside Park, New York, New York; the largest mausoleum in North America. There is no “Grant’s Tomb”.

Hobbies: horseback riding – he once received a speeding ticket from a Washington, D.C. police officer that didn’t recognize him

Famous quote: “The right of revolution is an inherent one. When people are oppressed by their government, it is a natural right they enjoy to relieve themselves of oppression, if they are strong enough, whether by withdrawal from it, or by overthrowing it and substituting a government more acceptable.” Personal Memoirs, 1885

Posted onApril 27, 2016|Comments Off on Lost and Found – April 27th Edition

What to remember about April 27th…

1773 British Parliament passes Tea Act hoping to save failing East India Company; new monopoly leads to smuggling and rebellion

1791 American painter and inventor Samuel Morse is born in Massachusetts (d. 1872); creator of Morse Code and the telegraph

1805 After 500 mile march from Egypt, First Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon leads U.S. Marines and mercenary allies to victory over Barbary pirates at Battle of Derna; “to the shores of Tripoli” references this day

1813 American forces overcome British defenders during Battle of York in Canada; provincial capital of York (now Toronto) is captured and looted

1822 Future 18th President of the United States and Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant is born in Point Pleasant, Ohio (d. 1885)

1861 President Lincoln suspends writ of habeas corpus

1968 Following President Johnson’s announcement that he would not seek reelection, Vice President Hubert Humphry announces his candidacy

1978 Pro-communist rebels capture and kill Afghan president; government is overthrown and resulting turbulence will lead to Soviet invasion

2006 Construction begins on Freedom Tower located on the former site of the World Trade Center; later renamed One World Trade Center

2009 General Motors announces that it will phase out 80-year-old Pontiac brand as money-saving strategy; bankruptcy still lies ahead